NY A09452

Amends the 2025 "Trapped at Work Act" to revise definitions of "employer" and "employee" and prohibits employers from requiring employment promissory notes as a condition of employment, rendering such notes unenforceable and void

Defines "transferable credential" as degrees, diplomas, licenses, certificates, or documented skill proficiencies widely recognized by employers in the relevant industry, excluding employer-specific proprietary training and mandated safety/compliance training

Permits employers to require reimbursement for transferable credential costs only if: the agreement is in a separate written contract, the credential is not required for employment, repayment amounts are specified in advance and prorated, and no repayment is required if the employee is terminated (except for misconduct)

Allows repayment agreements for voluntary property sales/leases, financial bonuses, relocation assistance, and non-educational incentives, unless the employee was terminated for reasons other than misconduct or job duties were misrepresented

Establishes penalties of $1,000 to $5,000 per violation, with the commissioner considering employer size, good faith compliance efforts, violation gravity, and violation history when assessing fines; delays the effective date to one year after becoming law